Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-29
greeted his arrival reached the old
miscr's ears.
Perhaps poverty has some advantages
after all.

greeted his arrival reacned tne olu
miscr's ears.
Perhaps poverty has some advantages
after all
THE CAgvAssER AS An ACTOR.
The placarJs in the halls OF office
buildings are no more regarded ny
"beggars, peddlers, and book.agenis
in New York than elsewhere. The man
with patented device will get there
lust the same. There is strong analogy
between the occupation OF the actor
and that Of the canyasser. Each has
for his object the communication OF an
interest which is entirely fictitious so
far ash himself is concerned. The can
vasscr is often genuine artist. lie has
his exits and his entrances ; his good
lines and his striking situations.
He knows where his audience OF
one or two will applaud just as
Booth knows when his audience OF one
or two thousand will he moved to ex-
press itself Each has done the same
thing time and time again. The actor
saws, "lO be or not to be the can
vasser says, "To buy or not to buy /;
day after day with the same expression
and Booth has as much idea OF com
hitting suicide whenhe SAYS bis line as
the canvasser has that his wares are
valuable when he tells you life isn't
worth living without them. There
may be exceptions now and then,
but they do not include the best artists.
The actor sometimes blunts his dagger
that he may not really strike it into his
heart when things get blue about the
end of the third act, and the canvasser
has been known to buy his own trou-
sers-stretchers but such deeds are
rare.
Once you take this view of the sub
Jet and you are safe against canvassers.
1t is the novice at the theatre who
thinks the hero must enjoy squeezing
the heroines hand. The Old-tmer has
attended Il rehearsal or two. and has
seen the venerable lady without her
war paint. Even thus am proof
against the canvasscr. No more shall
he persuade me that his trousers
stretcher is u suitable Christmas present
for my grandmother, for / recognize
the method in his madness when he
tells me with n trembling voice how
much the dear old lady needs one, and
how handy it would be to poke the fire
with
How carelesslv the canvasser points
ont the defects in rival machines, az if
they were beneath his notice. All this
is the result Of hard work. He has
looked up all lis competitors and has
visited them as prospective buyer.
His expo rience has enabled him to pick
ont the weak points An instance Of
this shrewd business policy came to my
notice the other day and it was very
funny IT gave my friend, Franklin
Ringer a nickname and cost him bot
tie of wine. A number of us were
sitting in his Office when a stranger.
having somewhat the air Of a rustic, en-
tered and at once saluted the assem-.
bled company with the words 81 want
TO look ut this ere (wJringer o yourn. ~
Everybody said "What p in way
that ought to have abashed the visitor
but il didn't. 81 want ter see Franklin
w. Ringer" he continued.
Mr.. Ringer looked up with q glance
like doublc-barrcllcd shotgun loaded
with Single nails. 81 believe I'm the
only Franklin Ringer there is about
these premises, SAID he.
"Ycou :" shouted the coUutryman,
"wly, 1 thought it was machine F.!
YooU don't tell me its man.
"To the lest of my knowledge and
lelicf. it is.
"Wcll, III be darned / beg your
PARDON. I'm sure. Yer see Im selling
the patent Lightnin' Clos Wringer
up'n our section, and seem franklin
l{inger printed on Your door, thought
I'd come in an get some points on it. ~
You'd better get point from the
spclling-hook to begin with, said
linger, but the fend was gone We
suggested that Ringer 60 ont and get
patent on himself, and made various
other remarks tending to sooth his
rufiied temper, but he has not been
quite himself since.